Is it okay to contact vendors directly?

[Bordercollierun]

I’ve seen a house I really like.
It’s up for auction, I’m not in a position to buy at auction as I have one to sell. I can’t risk selling and not having an onward purchase (not easy to find as I am looking for a small holding!)

The house is based on an existing farm. Would it be okay to speak to the owner of the farm and see if they know the owner so I could ask if they would sell it out of auction? Or is this a huge no no.

Thanks!

I absolutely would. When we bought this house, we didn't even have our old house on the market. I had been browsing Rightmove one night, with some wine (as you do!), and I saw this house and loved it. It had sea views and they didn't come up for sale often. We viewed the house, and afterwards we asked the sellers to give us time to sell, and if they were agreeable we would pay a deposit to show we were serious. Quite off the wall, but they actually agreed! We got their mobile number and kept them up to date all the way along. Luckily we sold our old house in just 8 weeks and it was all systems go. Had to let the old one go for cheaper than we'd have liked, but you do whatever it takes!

No. They'll assume you're a timewaster. Register with the auctioneer that you are interested if it doesn't sell at auction.

I’ve tried but they won’t give me any information or let me view as mines not on the market. It’s taken about 2 years to find this one so I don’t want to sell and be left with nothing!

No
unless you’ve sold subject to contract they won’t be interested.
They could make all the right noises , but if someone else comes along who can proceed, they will sell to them.

Do you need to sell yours to be able to afford this house that’s up for auction?

You can try and contact them, and then explain that your house isn't even on the market yet.

There are reasons that properties are sold at auction. And it's often because they want a fast, assured sale. Not some pie in the sky "Oh we've been looking for a house like yours for ages! But no we haven't actually done anything about putting ours on the market yet" 😐

I think it's ok @Bordercollierun - at the very least, you've nothing to lose, imo.

We were selling at auction (traditional, not modern method) in 2017. The house was completely unique - a three storey detached cottage built in the 1850s with an Arts & Crafts extension - that we'd bought as our forever home but our circs changed and we had only started sympathetically renovating when we needed to sell ASAP. There were a few issues with the property that meant auction was our best hope of selling.

A couple contacted us who had missed out when we purchased. They only wanted our house and wouldn't sell theirs unless they got it. But, they didn't yet have funds available to bid at auction, however we exchanged contact details just in case. We really hoped they'd buy it as we knew they loved the place as much as us.

On the auction day our house didn't sell, but a couple of weeks later the couple contacted us again - she'd received her book advance and suddenly they were proceedable. If they hadn't contacted us/exchanged details, it would probably have taken much longer to sell.....

Those who sell at Auction generally want a quick and sure sale so I doubt in your position you’ll get much joy

there’s nothing stopping you asking the owners of course

If you go to the auction and it doesn’t sell then you can approach the auctioneers after with an offer

Thanks everyone. It’s an online auction but I’ll keep an eye on it and go from there!

It might be at auction because it is unmortgagable.

I would try and contact the owners and see what they are open to.

It might be that their estate agent has advised they go to auction because that's where most buyers for their type of property look and would be the best place to ensure a sale (arable farmland, for example, in our area often goes for auction because most buyers of arable farmland look for land at auction). It could be a case that the owner wants a sale and not stuck for months on end with endless viewings but also wants best price for their property.

You could always say you would offer x but need to sell yours. It may inform the seller to put a reserve on the property at x or they may say if they don't get x at auction they will consider your offer.

How easy is yours to sell? If it's a desirable house that if you put on the market would go within weeks at very close to asking or above asking and you were willing to pick a buyer for a quick sale is different to having a house that will be a difficult sell or languish for months or a house you need top price for in order to afford the small holding in a falling housing market.